Covert makes more than almost every other local government employee in California

One other San Diego County official reached the top 10 highest-paid local government employees in 2011. Larry B. Anderson, chief executive officer of the Tri-City Hospital District, was paid $666,784, putting him in seventh place.

Both Covert and Anderson made less in 2011 than they did in 2010.

Covert earned $1,012,007 in 2010, or $233,183 more. Anderson made $829,926 in 2010, when he ranked fifth on the list.

Tri-City Spokeswoman Tarcy Connors said Anderson’s 2010 wages were higher because of one-time payouts of a relocation allowance and a benefits payment delayed by a changeover in the district’s benefits provider.

Palomar Health noted that Covert was not paid a bonus in 2011, explaining much of the falloff for him.